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Fox Sports to broadcast United SportsCar Racing, Formula E

The United SportsCar Racing series will be broadcast on Fox Sports through 2018. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Fox Sports and IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) announced today a five-year multi-media rights deal that solidifies United SportsCar Racing's home on television through the 2018 season.

In addition, Fox announced on Friday that it has reached a multiyear agreement to broadcast the FIA Formula E Championship, a series featuring open-wheel cars powered exclusively by electricity and racing in 10 of the world's leading cities, including U.S. circuits in Los Angeles and Miami. Ten teams have signed on, including Andretti Autosport, China Racing and British-based Drayson Racing.

The announcement follows last week's news that Fox Sports will broadcast NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races through 2024.

The agreement also includes coverage of IMSA's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge for five years. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

United SportsCar Racing, sanctioned by IMSA, is a merger of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series, and the new series will debut with the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January of 2014.

"It's hard to argue that there's a global media company more equipped and better resourced to cover and broadcast sports car racing than Fox Sports," said Ed Bennett, CEO of IMSA. "By partnering with Fox Sports for the next five years, United SportsCar Racing, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and their teams, tracks, drivers and sponsors are positioned for strong exposure while our existing fans can expect top-notch presentation, promotion and marketing."

With the 2014 schedule still being finalized, a mix of races are expected to be made available on both Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. Under the new arrangement, Fox Sports also has the right to stream all IMSA races as part of its Fox Sports Go product. IMSA retains additional digital rights including alternate camera angles and full race replays.

Fox Sports began broadcasting NASCAR races in 2001 and will launch its new all-sports network, Fox Sports 1, on Aug. 17 with a broadcast of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan International Speedway. On the same day, Fox Sports 2 will broadcast the Rolex Series SFP Grand Prix from Kansas Speedway, with a re-air Aug. 18 on Fox Sports 1.

"Fox Sports has shown a thirst for live sports programming, and in particular live motorsports programming," said Scott Atherton, ALMS president and CEO. "We're thrilled to have partnered with Fox Sports on this deal, rounding out their motorsports coverage with this content and giving sports-car racing fans a place to call home for the next five years. United SportsCar Racing and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will be surrounded by some of the best sports programming in the world and will benefit from great awareness and promotion."

Formula E will be coming to Miami and Los Angeles. Photo by Fox Sports

Formula E is scheduled to begin in September 2014.

"We are very proud to announce this major agreement between Fox and the FIA Formula E Championship and to be partnering a truly global organization that fully believes in the future of racing," said Alejandro Agag, CEO of promoter Formula E Holdings. "This global broadcasting deal will bring our Championship to nearly 90 countries and a potential 180 million households worldwide, giving our partners, our teams, and our teams' partners a platform to visualize the association to the values of this competition. We are particularly happy to join Fox at the time when Fox Sports 1 is being launched. America is a key market for electric cars and to show our races live in the U.S. will be central to promoting this type of mobility."